The State Security Service of Azerbaijan has launched an investigation against a number of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Trend reports about this, citing the Security Service.
According to the information received some officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, using their official powers, committed numerous illegal acts and caused damage to the interests of the state and society. Operative-investigative measures are being taken.
It is also reported that the public will be provided with additional information about the investigation, the persons suspected of the crime and their criminal activities.
In a conversation with 1lurer.am, the RA NA deputy, the expert on Azerbaijan issues Tatev Hayrapetyan noted on the topic:
"Reports about such actions are very interesting. It is noted that Farhat Mollazade, one of the closest persons of Elmar Mamedyarov, who was the manager of the office, is among those arrested at the moment.
Interestingly about a month ago Elmar Mammadyarov himself applied to the National Security Service, stating that concret steps, actions and slander were being committed against him. In particular it was about the information that Mammadyarov has apartments in New York. That info received a wide response in Azerbaijan. After that, Mamedyarov applied to the National Security Service.
In general I can say that Mamedyarov has really been targeted recently. The opposition media is quite active in criticizing him (I mean the Azeri press abroad, because there is no opposition press inside the country). In general certain circles within the government, in my opinion, at the instigation of Mehriban Alieva, are working against Mamedyarov.
What will this lead to? Will the Foreign Minister resign and be replaced as a result? the process will show, but from that point of view, certain tendencies have been long clearly observed.
If 16 years later they decide to change the foreign minister it will clearly mean a tightening of the line. In other words, they will be tougher in their statements. I can say at the moment that Hikmet Hajiev, who is in charge of the President's foreign relations, has been very active lately both abroad and at home.
He also gives numerous interviews about Nagorno Karabakh. If Azerbaijan is really going to change the foreign minister, it means that the recent steps of the Armenian diplomacy are actually yielding results, because the recent statements of the same Co-Chairs, which were published a few days ago, clearly state the agenda set by Armenia - In particular, to improve the atmosphere, to deepen the mechanisms of mutual trust. In other words, the Armenian agenda is becoming an integral part of the international agenda".
